Periodic Reporting for period 1 - FOLOU (Bringing knowledge and consensus to prevent and reduce FOod LOss at the primary production stage. Understanding, measuring, training and adopting)
Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-06-30
Every year a significant amount of food is lost during primary production. This has negative consequences for society, contributing to food insecurity, damaging the environment, causing greenhouse gas emissions, wasting water and degrading ecosystems and their biodiversity.
Food loss (FL) prevention strategies are facing several challenges, including regulatory, technical, scientific and social barriers. The EU Commission Decision (EU) 2019/1597 established a common methodology and minimum quality requirements for measuring food waste, but excluded primary production due to its complexity and cost. At the technical and scientific level, there is still a lack of a common measurement methodology to estimate FL at the primary stage, as well as insufficient knowledge and understanding of the underlying drivers. In addition, key stakeholders in the value chain lack relevant skills to effectively prevent FL and implement solutions.
The main FOLOU objective is to prevent and reduce the amount of food intended for human consumption that is ultimately lost at the primary production stage, to support the transition towards sustainable EU food systems by reducing FL at the primary production stage. The project aims to raise awareness about the magnitude of FL and establish mechanisms for measuring, estimating, monitoring and reporting, also assessing the extent and impact of FL.
To ensure a successful adoption of its outcomes, FOLOU plans to engage key stakeholders, including primary producers, retailers, consumers, policymakers and researchers. The project is organising its activities into a comprehensive action plan focusing on four main areas: understanding, measuring, training, and adopting.
By addressing these areas, FOLOU aims to create a more sustainable and efficient food system in the EU, contributing to the reduction of FL and the promotion of sustainability in the food production sector.
Food loss (FL) prevention strategies are facing several challenges, including regulatory, technical, scientific and social barriers. The EU Commission Decision (EU) 2019/1597 established a common methodology and minimum quality requirements for measuring food waste, but excluded primary production due to its complexity and cost. At the technical and scientific level, there is still a lack of a common measurement methodology to estimate FL at the primary stage, as well as insufficient knowledge and understanding of the underlying drivers. In addition, key stakeholders in the value chain lack relevant skills to effectively prevent FL and implement solutions.
The main FOLOU objective is to prevent and reduce the amount of food intended for human consumption that is ultimately lost at the primary production stage, to support the transition towards sustainable EU food systems by reducing FL at the primary production stage. The project aims to raise awareness about the magnitude of FL and establish mechanisms for measuring, estimating, monitoring and reporting, also assessing the extent and impact of FL.
To ensure a successful adoption of its outcomes, FOLOU plans to engage key stakeholders, including primary producers, retailers, consumers, policymakers and researchers. The project is organising its activities into a comprehensive action plan focusing on four main areas: understanding, measuring, training, and adopting.
By addressing these areas, FOLOU aims to create a more sustainable and efficient food system in the EU, contributing to the reduction of FL and the promotion of sustainability in the food production sector.
Understanding Food Loss
FOLOU aims to clarify the reasons of FL. To achieve this, various work packages have started with a thorough literature review on topics including FL data at the EU and country levels, drivers, measurement guidelines, sustainability studies and regulations. This information is being consolidated into a repository.
A significant finding from the review was the need for a consistent definition of FL, distinct from the EU’s definition of food waste. FOLOU defines FL as any harvest-mature plant, animal, or living being (including inedible parts) that is not harvested or removed from the supply chain without becoming animal feed, by-products or waste.
To further understand, FOLOU is developing a behavioral framework to categorize and analyse direct and indirect drivers of FL. This framework includes environmental, societal and behavioral factors. During the second reporting period, semi-structured interviews with stakeholders will validate these drivers and assess their significance.
Measuring Food Loss
FOLOU aims to determine the quantity of FL per commodity group at national and EU levels. During the first period, the project focused on:
1. Standardising Measurement: Establishing a common method for measuring and reporting FL at the primary sector level. The project developed a FL Quantification Manual detailing how to quantify across various food groups: fruits and vegetables; cereals and pulses; roots, tubers and oilseeds; meat and animal products; aquaculture and fisheries.
The first draft of the manual has been validated through consultations and interviews with expert groups and by starting the case studies. A national FL registry has been designed to report FL at the company level, with the aim of aggregating data into national and EU registries. The registry includes a methodology report, basic calculations, and an initial web application development.
2. Developing Tools: FOLOU has set up and tested 6 innovative cost-effective measurement technologies (including UAVs, blockchain, social media analysis, etc.), through field campaigns, data acquisition, annotation and the development of prototype models.
3. Sustainability Assessment: The sustainability quantification method for FL at the primary sector has been adapted and defined for this specific phenomenon, providing a solid framework to implement LCA, SLCA and LCC analysis and to understand the sustainability burdens.
Training and Dissemination
FOLOU is developing an eLearning centre to train different stakeholders groups on FL. The centre will offer five courses:
-Introduction to Primary Production FL
-Measuring FL; Implementing FOLOU Methodology
-Technological Innovation in FL Measurement
-FL Sustainability Implications
-Integrating FL into Policy and Decision-Making
The first course will be developed early in the second period, with other courses expected to start from mid-2025.
Collaboration and Outreach
FOLOU has engaged in clustering activities with seven European projects working in similar topics and actively participates in four platforms (e.g. Biorefine Cluster, EU Food Loss and Waste Prevention Hub). It has close collaboration with the WASTELESS project, involving joint webinars and shared activities.
The FOLOU Twinning Regions Program aims to engage 7-10 regions using two approaches: identifying regions with high agricultural productivity and regions interested in FL quantification. Potential regions are being contacted and FOLOU’s key outputs with high adoption potential have been defined.
FOLOU aims to clarify the reasons of FL. To achieve this, various work packages have started with a thorough literature review on topics including FL data at the EU and country levels, drivers, measurement guidelines, sustainability studies and regulations. This information is being consolidated into a repository.
A significant finding from the review was the need for a consistent definition of FL, distinct from the EU’s definition of food waste. FOLOU defines FL as any harvest-mature plant, animal, or living being (including inedible parts) that is not harvested or removed from the supply chain without becoming animal feed, by-products or waste.
To further understand, FOLOU is developing a behavioral framework to categorize and analyse direct and indirect drivers of FL. This framework includes environmental, societal and behavioral factors. During the second reporting period, semi-structured interviews with stakeholders will validate these drivers and assess their significance.
Measuring Food Loss
FOLOU aims to determine the quantity of FL per commodity group at national and EU levels. During the first period, the project focused on:
1. Standardising Measurement: Establishing a common method for measuring and reporting FL at the primary sector level. The project developed a FL Quantification Manual detailing how to quantify across various food groups: fruits and vegetables; cereals and pulses; roots, tubers and oilseeds; meat and animal products; aquaculture and fisheries.
The first draft of the manual has been validated through consultations and interviews with expert groups and by starting the case studies. A national FL registry has been designed to report FL at the company level, with the aim of aggregating data into national and EU registries. The registry includes a methodology report, basic calculations, and an initial web application development.
2. Developing Tools: FOLOU has set up and tested 6 innovative cost-effective measurement technologies (including UAVs, blockchain, social media analysis, etc.), through field campaigns, data acquisition, annotation and the development of prototype models.
3. Sustainability Assessment: The sustainability quantification method for FL at the primary sector has been adapted and defined for this specific phenomenon, providing a solid framework to implement LCA, SLCA and LCC analysis and to understand the sustainability burdens.
Training and Dissemination
FOLOU is developing an eLearning centre to train different stakeholders groups on FL. The centre will offer five courses:
-Introduction to Primary Production FL
-Measuring FL; Implementing FOLOU Methodology
-Technological Innovation in FL Measurement
-FL Sustainability Implications
-Integrating FL into Policy and Decision-Making
The first course will be developed early in the second period, with other courses expected to start from mid-2025.
Collaboration and Outreach
FOLOU has engaged in clustering activities with seven European projects working in similar topics and actively participates in four platforms (e.g. Biorefine Cluster, EU Food Loss and Waste Prevention Hub). It has close collaboration with the WASTELESS project, involving joint webinars and shared activities.
The FOLOU Twinning Regions Program aims to engage 7-10 regions using two approaches: identifying regions with high agricultural productivity and regions interested in FL quantification. Potential regions are being contacted and FOLOU’s key outputs with high adoption potential have been defined.
-FL Definition: FOLOU has developed a clear, EU-aligned definition of FL, distinct from food waste.
-Advanced Measurement Tools: The project has created six innovative technologies for precise and cost-effective FL measurement, including UAVs and AI systems.
-Standardized Methodology: The FL Quantification Manual provides a uniform approach for measuring FL across five major commodity groups.
-National and EU FL Registry: FOLOU is establishing a national and European FL registry for monitoring and reporting.
-Sustainability Assessment: The Category Rules and methodology for the sustainability assessment has been defined, as a basis to develop a new tool to assess the impacts of FL.
-E-Learning Platform: FOLOU’s Learning centre will offer courses to reinforce stakeholder expertise in FL management.
-Collaborative Networks: partnerships with other projects and platforms enhance knowledge sharing and problem-solving.
-Twinning Regions Program: The program is recruiting and engaging regions to replicate FOLOU outputs that facilitate the adoption of FL management practices.
-Data Integration: Case studies data is being used to refine FL quantification methods and address specific FL drivers.
-Advanced Measurement Tools: The project has created six innovative technologies for precise and cost-effective FL measurement, including UAVs and AI systems.
-Standardized Methodology: The FL Quantification Manual provides a uniform approach for measuring FL across five major commodity groups.
-National and EU FL Registry: FOLOU is establishing a national and European FL registry for monitoring and reporting.
-Sustainability Assessment: The Category Rules and methodology for the sustainability assessment has been defined, as a basis to develop a new tool to assess the impacts of FL.
-E-Learning Platform: FOLOU’s Learning centre will offer courses to reinforce stakeholder expertise in FL management.
-Collaborative Networks: partnerships with other projects and platforms enhance knowledge sharing and problem-solving.
-Twinning Regions Program: The program is recruiting and engaging regions to replicate FOLOU outputs that facilitate the adoption of FL management practices.
-Data Integration: Case studies data is being used to refine FL quantification methods and address specific FL drivers.